courts:
Paris Hilton pleads guilty in Las Vegas drug arrest
Steve Marcus / File
Paris Hilton listens to attorney David Chesnoff as they wait in the courtroom at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas September 20, 2010. Hilton pleaded guilty to charges stemming from her arrest for cocaine possession at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Published Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 | 7:46 a.m.
Updated Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 | 10:46 a.m.
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With camera shutters clicking and lawyers talking in hushed tones, Paris Hilton pleaded guilty Monday morning in a Las Vegas courtroom to two misdemeanor charges stemming from her arrest for cocaine possession last month at the Wynn Las Vegas.
But the 29-year-old hotel heiress and TV reality show celebrity won't go to jail — as long as she stays out of trouble for a year.
Hilton will serve a year of probation, pay a $2,000 fine, do 200 hours of community service and complete an intensive substance abuse program, according to the sentence handed down by Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure.
But Bonaventure also handed her a stern warning.
"You say you live in California and you come to Las Vegas to enjoy the accommodations on the Strip or at the Palms," Bonaventure said. "You have to understand that when you break the law here, there are consequences.
"I'm going to warn you, Miss Hilton, you've now been sentenced to one year in the Clark County Detention Center. The Clark County Detention Center is not the Waldorf Astoria. But I assure you that if you violate the terms of your probation you will serve one year in the Clark County Detention Center. Treat this very seriously. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, your honor. I promise," Hilton said.
Bonaventure said the matter will be reviewed in a year at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 20, 2011. He told Hilton that if she stayed out of trouble he would waive her personal appearance for that hearing.
"If there's any problems, make sure she's here," Bonaventure said.
Bonaventure followed through on a deal Hilton's lawyers cut with the Clark County District Attorney's office for her to avoid felony charges by pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of drug possession and obstructing an officer.
Hilton's courtroom appearance, which drew an army of photographers, videographers and some fans, was the follow-up to her run-in with Metro Police Aug. 27 on the Las Vegas Strip.
She was arrested inside the Wynn after police said a small plastic bag containing 0.8 of a gram of cocaine spilled out of her purse.
After the hearing, Hilton and her lawyers walked quickly out the sixth-floor courtroom to an elevator.
Hilton didn't stop to talk to reporters. But she pulled out a compact from her purse and applied makeup before entering an elevator and heading out to waiting cameras outside.
Outside the Regional Justice Center, Hilton and her attorneys walked briskly, escorted by Las Vegas city marshals, through a gauntlet of photographers and videographers who were told to stand behind barricades and police tape.
"Don't let them get you down, Paris," shouted one well-wisher. "They can't break that spirit. No way, baby! No way! Paris is back, folks! You're not Scarface!"
Hilton's attorney, David Chesnoff, escorted her to a black SUV, then had an impromptu press conference.
"She was treated like anybody would be treated under the circumstances," Chesnoff said. "I'm very proud of the way that she's dealt with this. She's been polite and contrite through the whole procedure, not only with the court, but with our office. I think she's on the road to success here and I wish her personally all the best."
Chesnoff was asked if she would come back to Las Vegas soon — or if she had an ill will toward Las Vegas after being arrested.
"She loves Las Vegas and she loves the people of Las Vegas," Chesnoff said. "And her family has strong ties to Las Vegas. So I'm sure Paris will return to Las Vegas like anybody else."
Hilton will likely do part of her 200 hours of community service as an animal rights advocate.
"She does a lot of stuff with animal rights issues," Chesnoff said. "Also, I understand she's done work with children's hospitals. So I think she'll probably continue along those lines."
Chesnoff would not reveal what intensive substance abuse program she would enter.
"I'm going to protect her privacy on that," he said.
Asked why Hilton decided not to fight the felony charge, Chesnoff said "Miss Hilton accepted responsibility."
At the hearing, which lasted about 12 minutes, Chesnoff and Chief Deputy District Attorney David Shubert and Chesnoff told Bonaventure about the plea deal.
Part of the agreement, Chesnoff said, was that there were to be two six-month sentences, to run consecutively to each other, if she violates her probation terms.
"The terms that are defined by the agreement are that if she is arrested for anything other than a minor traffic citation," Chesnoff said.
Bonaventure then spoke to Hilton and read the original charges to her to make sure she understood the consequences.
"For a first or second offense this felony would be punishable by a prison term of from one to four years, with mandatory probation," Bonaventure said.
He made sure she understood that by making the plea agreement to the lesser charge she would be waiving her right to a preliminary hearing and a trial on the felony charge and asked if she accepted the negotiations.
Hilton told him she understood and had no questions.
He asked her what she did Aug. 27 that caused her to plead guilty.
"I was in possession as well as telling an officer that the bag wasn't mine," she said.
"As to possession, what did you possess?" Bonaventure asked.
"Cocaine," she said quietly.
"As to count two, charging you with obstructing a public officer, a misdemeanor, how do you plea?"
"Guilty, your honor."
He asked her what she did to plead guilty to that offense.
"I said that the purse wasn't mine to the officer," she said.
Bonaventure asked her specifically if she said that the lady's Chanel handbag with the cocaine and the Zig-Zag rolling papers belonged to an unidentified person, when in truth, she had bought the handbag months earlier.
"Yes, your honor," she said.
After accepting those guilty pleas, Bonaventure talked to her about the sentence.
Bonaventure noted to Schubert that the plea agreement was fairly typical.
"Quite commonly, possession of controlled substance felony offenses are amended to misdemeanor offenses," Bonaventure said. "I would note the suspended sentence is the maximum suspended sentence on these misdemeanor offenses."
Bonaventure said he assumed there was a lack of criminal history as to the reason for the negotiations.
"Judge, I think under the circumstances of the case, this is a fair resolution. We reduced a felony down to two misdemeanors. Our main concern is that Miss Hilton stay out of trouble over the next year," Schubert said. "And that's why we want the one-year suspended sentence."
Chesnoff said he appreciated the professionalism of the district attorney's office in making the negotiations.
"Miss Hilton is contrite and accepts responsibility," Chesnoff told the judge.
Bonaventure told Hilton that her 200 hours of community service could be done at any nonprofit organization.
Bonaventure said there was not a specific intensive substance abuse program that she had to complete.
"I've discussed it with the authorities and we've arranged for Miss Hilton to be in an outpatient program directed by a certified person in that field and we will provide the court with proof of the attendance and completion of the program," Chesnoff said.
"As far as the charity work, Miss Hilton intends on continuing the kind of charity work she already does to complete that condition," Chesnoff said.
Bonaventure said that would be sufficient.
"Miss Hilton you are ordered to stay out of trouble. That means no new arrests or citations while this case is pending for at least one year," Bonaventure said. "You are sentenced to an informal term of probation, meaning you won't have a probation officer that you have to check in with. On your own, you will have to complete requirements and you will have to stay out of trouble."
Bonaventure also said that minor traffic violations don't fall under the "stay out of trouble" agreement.
"You have agreed that any new arrests terminate your term of probation, and you are agreeing to serve a one-year jail sentence. Do you understand that?" Bonaventure said.
Hilton said she understood.
"The purpose of this, at this point, is that you change your conduct," Bonaventure told her. "If you're not changing your conduct, the purpose then shifts simply to punishment. The punishment here is to serve a one-year jail sentence."
The Aug. 27 incident began when she was with her boyfriend, Las Vegas nightclub mogul Cy Waits, who was driving a black Cadillac Escalade in front of Wynn Las Vegas. A Metro officer said he stopped the SUV after the officer smelled a "vapor trail" of marijuana smoke.
Waits faild field sobriety tests given by a motorcycle officer. Hilton told an officer she needed to go inside to use a restroom and an officer saw a bag of cocaine fall out of her handbag. Hilton initially told police the purse and cocaine were not hers, but did claim the rolling papers, $1,300 in cash and several credit cards.
She was banned from two Wynn resorts of the Strip after the arrest. Waits was dismissed from his nightclub job.
Discussion: 4 comments so far…
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The fact that this imbecile got off AGAIN just proves the inequity in the justice system. Had she been some unemployed minority single mother caught with coke in her purse again and again she would have had her sorry butt tossed in the clink! I cannot express how proud I am of Steve Wynn for banning her from all his properties. Someone needs to take out the trash so to speak, and at least Steve Wynn did a little of that.
Yeah, I'm sure they'll really prosecute her if she violates her probation.
Comment removed by moderator. Off topic.
Paris, posing, partying, drinking, dabbling in recreational drugs, looking good, running with more of the same.
Banned by Steve Wynn, generating bad news, not being much of a role model, except for looking good, selling and promoting products, clubs, etc.
Is this your life? I mean, this is it?
I'm not saying you don't have a good heart and probably do some good, but all this other stuff looks like a waste, kiddo, and your life can count for so much more.
Now come on, my comment was on topic. If this person was poor and black do you think the would have gotten a misdemeanor offer?
I just hope that the 200 hours of community service (that I'm sure she'll do) doesn't cut into the time she dedicates to opening that women's shelter she swore she was going to open after her release from prison last time.
Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas, the strip, have in common ever diminishing revenues. And Paris Hilton has a world-wide fan base, a percentage of which, travels from all parts of the globe to Las Vegas, for no other reason than they associate Las Vegas with Paris Hilton. Likewise, other entertainers with world-wide recognition draw attention to this city when they come here. So let's send a message. If you are a celebrity and caught with a drug for personal use (how many of the commentors here are hypocrites addicted to their doctors little pieces of paper, i.e., prescriptions) we are going to send you to prison. So if you are a member of the entertainment elite (people conveniently forget Las Vegas is the supposed "capital of entertainment" by virtue of the entertainers presence), be sure to stay away from Las Vegas because its citizens wants first your mony, and then your liberty, in that order. All hypocrites. Especially King hypocrite Steve Wynn who has made hundreds of millions as a "pusher" of alcohol,nightlclubs, sex, gambling, etc.
The difference being, most celebrities have an IQ over 70, therefore, they know not to hotbox a joint in bumper to bumper traffic on the Vegas strip while stopped next to a bicycle cop.
Princess! Understand that Coke, the Evil Weed, and Lip Balm are "danger road", little darlin'. If it weren't for the lip gloss, none of this would have gone down.
The first step is admit your powerless over lip balm, that your life has become unmanageable. Lip balm is the gateway substance that leads to bad hair days, & tanning salonism.
Change your friends, if you have any.
Call me when your parent cut you off. I know a woman's shelter that needs a volunteer. Will this be you in 10 years? On Parole, unhappy, et al?
Locked up, covered up, or cleaned up, are your choices loverbuns. Choose wisely young "lady"
There are hundreds of people in Clark County jail serving sentences for much less serious offenses.
Boneventure failed to do his job.He has no problem locking up regular Las vegas Citizens that have been arrested on the same charges.
Just goes to show how easy it is to buy a Judge with Celebrity status.
One has to wonder if the Judge received a phone call from...... maybe.............her father.
It's not who you know.it's who you blow.Right judge Boneventure.
Judge Bonaventure isn't at fault here, nor did he fail to do his job.
If you don't like the result, the persons to blame are District Attorney David Roger and her attorney David Chesnoff. They cut the deal - Bonaventure had nothing to do with that.
Judge Joe isn't the one who negotiates the plea bargains. Look to your Prosecutor for that one. I find it interesting people call her dumb. I'm not a fan of hers, but she was smart enough to hire legal counsel which kept it from being a felony on her record and got it down to a misdemeanor with no jail time. Sometimes, being smart doesn't mean you know everything. Sometimes it means knowing when and how to hire the best.
Like ALL drug users, she shouldn't become a criminal and neither should the black dude shooting heroin in the alley behind the courthouse...white, black, yellow - who cares?...please rescind all drug laws...all of 'em...these people have enough trouble without breaking some arbitrary law...still cannot understand why all y'all wanna tell other people how to live AND if they don't live 'right' you wanna make them felons...it is morally wrong, and all evidence proves it is wrong in practice...
The sad part is that down the line she will be busted again...and never serve a day. If the deal is that if she gets caught again she goes to jail for 1 year, then make that the deal!!
No time off for good behavior or any other BS excuse. If you watch any of her interviews on Letterman after she served a little jail she talks about how she has realized the error of her ways, how she is now on a straight path, how she knows not to break laws and on and on. Where did all of that go?
Her commercial supporters are disgusting. All for the dollar. Everything else is meaningless. Steve Wynn made a stand. Good.
This twit takes nothing seriously. There are definitely a different set of rules for the wealthy. Photo 1/10 says it all.
That's hot!
Instead of throwing the book at her, they tossed her the key to the city instead.
Democrats........................
I only hope there is mandatory drug screening from time to time because she smokes pot and I don't believe she will stop.
She was busted for possession of cocaine, a highly addictive drug.....
Do you think she'll stop doing that ?
Her probation entails no supervision and no drug testing. It's kid of like giving a little kid a "time out", except that the little kid might eventually face punishment for not complying and might eventually learn that there are consequences for its actions.
Milt...wtf?..."I only hope there is mandatory drug screening from time to time because she smokes pot and I don't believe she will stop."
WHY DO YOU CARE?...gawd people...get productive lives!!
Thats whats wrong with Vegas you dont take care of your stars.In cali we take care of our stars that fall.she was in a party town spending her money so back off vegas and send our little girl back home,I wanna thank the judge that let our cali lady off the hook she's a living legend.You guys deal with the wife beater boxer you got out there he's yalls boy and Hilton is our girl ,get a life will you
Famous for nothing, this bust and court photos will help keep her star burning.
Moral of Story: Who really cares? ;^)
"And her family has strong ties to Las Vegas."
This is what happens when you don't stay at the family properties... ;^)
Drug dealer gets shot by cops and the cops are nazis according to LV residents!
Drug user gets caught and user should be shot according to LV residents!
LV is suffering a severe downturn and LV residents are puzzled!
REALLY!
Paris Hilton... a role model for the Zeta's.
If she can't stay out of trouble, maybe she can get the cell next to O.J... ;^)
They should have said go to jail for 1 year (no time off for good behavior) or pay the city of Las Vegas $500,000.00 This would be a great way for the city to raise some much needed money. Half a million wouldn't put a dent in one of her many trust funds.
$500,000.00 wouldn't put a dent in Las Vegas' deficit either.
Also, it wouldn't be legal if that wasn't the standard deal for other defendants. Something that was 2x more than normal can be justified, but a fine 1000x more than normal would be selective prosecution.
I envision THE JANE MANSFIELD story over again here.
@Purgatory
"Like ALL drug users, she shouldn't become a criminal and neither should the black dude shooting heroin in the alley behind the courthouse...white, black, yellow - who cares?...please rescind all drug laws...all of 'em...these people have enough trouble without breaking some arbitrary law...still cannot understand why all y'all wanna tell other people how to live AND if they don't live 'right' you wanna make them felons...it is morally wrong, and all evidence proves it is wrong in practice..."
Agree, narcotics should be decriminalized along with the other social vices i.e. gambling, prostitution, tobacco -- prosecuting an individual's vice choice is not the responsibility of societies advocating individual freedoms and liberties -- nor an effective method of modifying behavioral changes of the addict.
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She can do some "community service" on me! LOL
Why such cruel and disparaging comments towards Paris? She's merely fulfilling her role as the debutante we all hold her up to be. She should try not to get caught with drugs, but really her behavior is no different than most of the regular people who frequent these moronic night clubs
she will hire someone to hold her drugs for her now when she's in vegas.
Who cares?
Actually, I don't find it "morally wrong" that I don't want someone who's high on drugs to run down a family of pedestrians. I don't find it "morally wrong" to want drug addicts to stop providing the demand for the drug trade to continue, along with the extreme amount of violence that goes along with it. Legalizing narcotics doesn't magically stop the violence, addicts will still rob people to get their fix.
I don't know what the average person gets in similar circumstances so I don't know what I would call legal justice in this case.
I do know that no less than 2 years in Chino would make me feel more confident that arrogant nit wit rich kids can't continue to laugh in the face of the legal system.
So all we need to get away with felonies is to be rich and famous? Anybody else would not have even been able to get out on bail before trial.
Judge Bonaventure and all judges can modify or change and deal the DA comes up with, if they feel it isn't in the best interest of the public! So yes they were all in it together. And yes the famous and wealthy can purchase another level of justice.
If you don't like this, then vote these people out of office.
Heya astroglide...this may or may not surprise you, but I don't want "someone who's high on drugs to run down a family of pedestrians" either...jeeesshhh...that would be a criminal offense and the person would rightfully be prosecuted, found guilty, and be sent to prison...
In case there is any doubt as to my point, it is this:
Regardless of morality, please spend the time, effort and expense we now spend on capturing 'criminals' in other more productive ways to deter people from abusing drugs. Simple economic 101 theory.
This piece of garbage deserved the book thrown at her and more. Why are there two levels of justice in this country??
Uh, she received "no special treatment?" Give me a break! I don't care if she uses drugs. None of my busines. But, if it is illegal, and it is, then she should be treated as the criminal she is just as the "common" folk are. I agree with those that say drugs should be legalized. The so-called "War on Drugs" has proved to be a colossal failure and a waste of money and resources. It does not work & never will as long as there are fools who think that they can take narcotics and control them while all the evidence points to them eventually being controlled by the drugs. Don't be stupid! Stay away from "recreational" drugs and you will live a freer, safer & more productive life.
Again, Hilton dodged a bullet. The public sees this a "special treatment". I certainly hope that her "terms of probation means staying out of trouble everywhere, NOT just Las Vegas, and that she will be tested for drugs radomly (like every time she shows up in Las Vegas). We will se what happens. Her buddy Lohan found out.
Will someone tell this spoiled brat to grow up! Her life's goal seems to be taking "shallow" to a new level. The dumb blonde routine is getting old, very old. Why didn't her public relations folks hold her to the "charity work" she so wanted to complete after her last time in jail. Good for Steve Wynn for banning a person connected with drugs from his properties--no matter how rich and famous she is. Again, why exactly is she famous, and why do we care?
really :
C'mon no reason to call little Paris a Piece of garbage. She is a beautiful young lady with lots of money, and ANYONE would love to spend some time with her. Be real!!
People, you can complain and whine all you want about this but what it comes down to is WE have the power to VOTE these corrupt politicians out of office.
If you don't like the "special treatment" Paris received then do yourself a favor on November 2nd and vote for a new District Attorney!
This is not the first time DA David Roger has given special privileges to the rich and famous. He is always in the paper about how he accepts bribes from special interest groups and does favors for these types of people. It's wrong and unjust.
Don't you want a fair DA?
Looks like Vegas attracts nothing but skanks and dopers. They should have her perform community service by picking up liter along Hwy 50 between Austin and Eureka.
I wonder if she needs somebody to watch after her while she does her year of probation? Sign me up!
I dont care what any of you say ...shes hot and has a swimming pool full of cash. HaHaHa!
Is anyone really surprised??
WHAT A SKANK ! She and Lindsey belong together...Geezz your honor..I promise to do community service and stay out of trouble.."Ouch", don't slap my hand!!
What a joke..anyone else would be gone in a heart beat...
Paris, you and your friends are just pure role models...I am sure your grandfather is proud of you !! Oh and your parents - ? Sure hear alot from them !!!
Go room with your buddy Lindsey...
Bath her and bring her to me!
Isn't it bathe?
As in bathe her
;-)
I'd rather spend time in a cage of rabid wolverines than with her.
@boots and @vegaskenn
yes paris is a beautiful girl, but this isn't a beauty pageant--this is a courtroom trial. Nobody is arguing whether or not she's pretty. We're missing the real issue at hand-which is--if this were ANY other person they would be in jail right now-NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
take a look at the District Attorney's website... Paris' lawyer slapped him with a big fat check for $10,000....and you wonder why she was let off so easily!
people can't see what's right in front of them!
personally id rather punch her in the face she annoys the heck out of me....but I give her 3weeks before she messes up again, look at lohan another role model celeberity, didnt take her long either.
What's the over/under that she's in trouble in a few months??
"Bath her," ha. I like how Paris Hilton, just by being Paris Hilton, brings out the dumbest posters. Imma just sayin'....
over/under is 4
APPEARING AT A NON WYNN VEGAS RESORT TONIGHT- MS. PARIS HILTON. JOIN HER FOR DRINKS AND A NEW BRAND OF POWDERED BLOW, IT'S CALLED GUM!
What a farce her court appearance was and what a farce the Vegas justice system is when it comes to privileged no talent so-called celebrities with famous last names.
I'm sure Mama and Daddy will once again tell the world how proud they are of her and that she's just misunderstood.
She'll get caught again and once again they'll slap her wrist and let her go.
Apparently they detained her in Japan yesterday. You can't enter the country with a suspended sentence judgement.
Her "event" was cancelled.
Good. She'll never learn unless there is punishment. Send her back to lala land
The Judicial System works by this rule-------Them that gots the GOLD make the rules. The Moronic Hilton Heiress done got da GOLD. Some of it may be in a few lawyers and judges back pockets by now. I have no respect for our judicial system it's as corrupt as the legislative and executive branches of government.
She did have a pretty good mugshot, even after a few tokes.
What did Paris say when she tried to conceal the burning roach in her mouth? That's hot!
How big a bribe does a Las Vegas judge take to give this looser a free walk? Where I live, she'd be crying in jail.
Do poor city-kids gat the same break in Vegas?
Tom...it seems to make you feel better about your life when someone several socioeconomic classes above you is punished...weird...
EasternSide...whatever that means...may I infer you are where you are in life because you cannot spell loser?...huh, loser?
@cignettis You couldn't be more right. Paris Hilton had enough money to pay off the lawyers, DA and whoever else. Whether she paid them with money or her body--they got paid.
Everyone seems really upset about this whole ordeal. We've all seen someone one way or another go to prison for less serious offenses than Paris. That's not fair!
I beg Las Vegas to stop crying and start DOING something about it. We have an election coming up on November 2nd. Vote these corrupt people OUT of office and vote in real respected candidates.
Don Chairez is running against David Roger the current horrible DA --Don is a former judge who was voted "Judge of the Year" and has been called "a hero" of the people because he FIGHTS for the average joes, not big money socialites like Paris. I've had the privilege to meet him in person and he is genuine and does not give into greed and corruption like everyone else in this sleezy town.
what a joke...logged in the other day..now it's specialty registration.to become a trusted commentator.Americans are such scammers...forget your newspaper and your unethical american values...losers !!!
PARIS HILTON SHOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
Hilton has a prior criminal record.
Let her spend some time up north with O.J......
AND SHE BALD FACED LIED ABOUT HER PURSE, too.....
She's a rich little NOTHING with no real life except to 'party-down' with some snort.
It was HER PURSE
It was HER COCAINE
HEY PARIS, NEVADA IS NOT CALI-FORNICATION-LAND, baby.......
GoldenGuy -- I can promise you this was not done to be a scam. Far from it.
I hope you will read this for more details:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep...
rob
Last time i heard cocaine was illegal. So now it is ok to have it. If it was anybody else(not fameous) then they would be held to the extent of the law. I guess being rich and fameous means you can get away with anything. Imagine that. Laws dont apply to some people.
Vote out David Rogers and maybe the celebrities will be treated the same as the rest of us.